Senior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique stated on X that while smaller provinces may be created, the timing must be right, and the process must be constitutional and democratic.




Khawaja Saad Rafique remarked that prioritizing the creation of smaller provinces—rather than addressing the grave issues of terrorism, political anarchy, and economic distress currently plaguing Pakistan—would be an unwise move. Doing so at this juncture would only exacerbate political hatred, bitterness, and divisions.




The senior PML-N leader added that to improve governance, the priority should be to establish a Provincial Finance Commission—modeled on the NFC and backed by constitutional safeguards—and to implement a system of empowered local governments, with provinces devolving the powers acquired through the 18th Amendment down to the district level.